Somaliland Assistance Bulletin January—March 2007
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Somaliland Assistance Bulletin January—March 2007 I. HUMANITARIAN SITUATION which were received in western parts of the country Finalized on January 2007, FAO/FSAU led Post- (Awdal and Hargeisa regions), have improved Deyr assessment indicated above normal rains in pasture and water resources. If such good to normal most parts of Somaliland leading to improved rains are received in this Gu season, the rural livelihoods through increased availability of water livelihoods particularly pastoral communities are and pasture. Improved body conditions combined expected to have better post-drought recovery with Haji (pilgrimage) season improved livestock including building up of assets and improved prices enhancing the purchasing power. However, resilience to shocks. due to reported rift valley, meat and livestock export According to Somalia Food Security Emergency has been stopped right after the Haj by Arab Release of FEWSNET released on 23rd March 2007, countries. Unknown camel disease has significantly the recent climate outlook for the Greater Horn of reduced herd sizes of many families throughout the Africa including Somalia predict the likelihood of country with no indication of containing it. The near normal Gu rains (April to June 2007) which is disease was a cross-border disease, as the same expected to sustain further livelihood recovery. disease was reported in Ethiopian Somali region FSAU Post-Deyr forecast better livestock build up as before it was patterned in Somaliland. there is high kidding rate expected for sheep/goats in April and May 2007 due to high conception in According to FSAU, crop assessment in Somaliland October-December 2006 while medium to low indicated higher crop harvest; about 147% of the calving is expected for the camels due to low Post War Average (PWA: 1998-2006) and the conception during October-December 2006. highest after 2003 and 2005 with sorghum being the The FEWSNET release, however, estimated possible dominant cereal crop (88%). Maize the second cereal floods in the riverine areas of the Southern Somalia. crop cultivated. FSAU Post Deyr nutrition survey also indicated alert There are reports of widespread locust in some parts malnutrition rates for under 5 children with Severe of Awdal Region in March 2007 due to recent rains. Acute Malnutrition of 0.7% in Nugal valley to 1.9% Larva infestation of the locust was widely reported in in Hawd livelihood zone. The Global malnutrition the coastal areas and now the flying stage of the ranges from 8.1% in Hawd livelihood zone (South of locust has reached Borama town crossing the Hargeisa) to 9% in Sool Plateau. All malnutrition Ethiopian border. Due to lack of local capacity and figures showed improvement compared to the 2002 preparedness to deal with locust outbreaks, there is a figures. Although from alert to serious nutrition need to develop networks with the regional locust conditions are reported, the condition is far better bodies/companies that can assist Somaliland during than the nutritional situation in the South and Central the time of infestation. Somalia. In most cases, considerable correlation of malnutrition with ART and diarrhea diseases was As chronic food insecurity is pre-dominant problem reported. in most rural livelihoods, assistance targeting at improving resilience to shocks and supporting the Water born Diarrhea outbreaks was widely reported productive assets and infrastructure can contribute to in many parts of the country (see the health section further livelihood recovery of the communities. for details) after the Deyr rains. Root causes of water Building the local capacities in preparedness and born diseases are believed to be related with poor responsiveness to disasters like droughts and floods quality of the drinking water which is mainly open can assist in coping with natural shocks which are water sources. becoming more frequent in the recent years. The good Deyr season (November-December 2006) II. HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE allowed rural communities (both pastoral and agro- pastoral) smooth transition to the next rainy (Gu) There is a strong presence of humanitarian actors in season (April-June 2007) without drought symptoms Somaliland. This allows relatively good coverage of in the long dry (Jilaal) season (December 06-March assistance to those in need except some areas 07). contested between Somaliland and Puntland in Sool and Sanaag regions. In March 2007, Gu rains started earlier than expected in Somaliland but shortly lived. These rains, most of This quarterly bulletin is compiled by UNOCHA Hargeisa in collaboration with humanitarian actors operating in Somaliland. For further information, inputs or comments please contact Abdulkarim H. Ali at [email protected], or [email protected]. All references to Somaliland pertain to the self-declared but unrecognized Republic of 1 Somaliland. Somaliland Assistance Bulletin January—March 2007 Emergency Response to flood affected Somalia, the above number may not be in the context communities. since there is a new influx of displaced people coming to Hargeisa and other towns of Somaliland. Flood response was coordinated to affected communities in early January 2007 as late December Emergency support to IDPs from South and rains caused floods that damaged and disrupted the Central Somalia water system for Zeila and Tokoshi, two coastal Based on the assessment report presented jointly towns which are about 7 Kms apart from each other. by UNHCR, MRRR and group of LNGOs The road between Zeila and Tokhoshi, Asha Ado to (CCBRS, VOSOMWO, GASHAN & SOYDA) Zeila were badly damaged due to the heavy on 26th February to IDP Working Group, 160 downpours. Ministry of National Planning and newly displaced households of whom 58% are Coordination with the support of OCHA organized children while more 50% are females, arrived two missions to the area. The first mission including Hargeisa from December 2006 to February Minister of planning, minister of water, Minister of 2007 following renewed fighting in the South Interior, WFP, DRC, UNICEF went to Zeila in the and Central Somalia. The survey was concerned late December in order provide emergency assistance with only poor households from South and to the affected households and to assess the general Central Somalia and not hundreds who flee situation. About 625 households in Zeila and through commercial airlines as these were better Tokoshi received emergency assistance including off households. Originating from Mogadishu, food, water, and non-food items from Government, Hiiraan, Merca, Baidao and other areas in SC WFP, UNICEF and DRC. Somalia, most of these displaced people are found in Dami, Statehouse, Stadium, Sheikh The other mission consisting of technical experts in Nur and Mohamed Moge settlements. Other water and roads from UNICEF, UNDP, UNDP went reports indicate more new arrivals even after in January in order to come up with technical report this report not only in Hargeisa but in other on the damage on water and road infrastructure with major towns (e.g. Burao and Berbera). Reason recommendations on how best to rehabilitate the for migration was combination of factors damaged infrastructure. UNICEF will address the including general conflict, inter clan conflict damages on the water system while UNHCR is and floods. Reportedly these people are in planning to support the road infrastructure in the area desperate conditions with no means of access to since these roads are used for the repatriation of the income and lack of clan support and protection refugees from Djibouti. UNHCR announced the which resulted in ending up in begging and allocation of about $ 100,000 for road rehabilitations child labor activities. As recommended in the in the area. Lack of local implementing partners is reports, these people needed emergency reportedly contributing to delays of the assistance such as food, shelter, utensils and rehabilitation. other types of humanitarian assistance like protection, sanitation, and water. 16 households Furthermore, efforts to rehabilitate infrastructure who were recently displaced by intra/inter (schools, MCHs, Hospitals, etc.) destroyed by floods fighting within Somaliland or on Ethio-Somali have been ongoing in Burao town. Rehabilitation of border were also identified during the the infrastructure particularly the flood protection assessment. Including these 16 households, 176 dykes is an important remedial and protective households were reported to be in dire of support as Gu rains are approaching and can inflict assistance. similar damages. After several consultations between Humanitarian Agencies and Somaliland Coordination on IDPs Authorities, finally the 176 households received th the intended assistance on 25 March 2007 Although controversial due to lack of IDP profiling successfully. There was a government concern in Somaliland, about 40,000 displaced persons are that host communities may be hostile against found in within poor living conditions—often in these displaced if only the displaced are urban areas with inadequate water and sanitation and targeted, however; after community lacking income opportunities and access to basic mobilization, host communities was hospitable social service. Due to unrest in the South and Central to the process. WFP, UNICEF, and UNHCR This quarterly bulletin is compiled by UNOCHA Hargeisa in collaboration with humanitarian actors operating in Somaliland. For further information, inputs or comments please contact Abdulkarim H. Ali at [email protected], or [email protected].